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Friday, February 15, 2013

The date of death for Ethiopian Michael Atakelt to be investigated

(Feb 15, 2013, (The Age.com.au))--The State Coroner has adjourned a hearing into the death of a young
man whose body was found in the Maribyrnong River, and requested that
police reinvestigate the case on his behalf. Michael Atakelt was 22 years old when he went missing on 26
June 2011. His body was retrieved from the Maribyrnong River in Ascot
Vale eleven days later, on 7 July.

Michael Atakelt

Julian Burnside, QC, appearing as an assistant to the
Coroner, applied for the hearing to be halted in light of evidence given
by Sergeant George Dixon, from the water police, about the likely
location the body had entered the river.

Dixon had not been interviewed by Footscray police
investigator, Detective Senior Constable Tim McKerracher, before the
inquest began. Burnside submitted that the investigation should be resumed
with a senior officer.

“It may be embarrassing for Mr McKerracher to be
sent out to uncover things he has overlooked. It may be the evidence is no longer available. To avoid
that embarrassment it is preferable that a senior officer be sent in.” Read more fromThe Age.com.au »